Official Charts Flashback 1999: Westlife – Swear It Again 25 April 2014 Official Charts Flashback 1999: Westlife – Swear It Again It was the first of an incredible 14 Number 1s for the likely lads from Ireland, and it topped the charts 15 years ago today. Google + It was the first of an incredible 14 Number 1s for the likely lads from Ireland, and it topped the charts 15 years ago today. 1999 was a time when pop ruled supreme and its hottest stars were boybands, and ones with an Irish connection were usually the hottest of them all. When it came to chart success, Boyzone were the boyband to beat, but as their time was coming to an end – for the next few years at least – it was an opportunity for five fresh faces, each topped by perfect ‘90s hair, to step up.

Westlife – originally Westside, but had to have a rethink because of an existing US group – were Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Brian (which he changed to Bryan, before going back to Brian) McFadden. In the age-old spirit of boybands lending a hand to young pretenders, the five lads were introduced to the world as being managed by Boyzone’s Ronan Keating. Behind the scenes, however, it was management supremo and future X Factor legend Louis Walsh who was looking after their interests. Their first single, Swear It Again, was an instant hit, debuting at the top this week in 1999. Watch out for the infamous key change: Swear It Again was first in a run of seven consecutive Number 1s, including 1999’s Official Christmas Number 1 I Have A Dream/Seasons In The Sun and a cover of Phil Collins’ hit Against All Odds featuring none other than Mariah Carey in 2000. It really, really happened. We saw it with our own eyes.

The group has 14 chart-toppers on the Official Singles Chart, the last being The Rose in 2006. Swear It Again has sold 375,000 copies, making it their 7th bestselling single in the UK. Their biggest is 2001’s Comic Relief single Uptown Girl – originally a 1983 Number 1 for Billy Joel – which has shifted over 785,000 copies. Over on the Official Albums Chart, they’ve had seven Number 1s, with six albums selling over a million copies. Their bestselling album in the UK is the first volume of greatest Hits, Unbreakable, from 2001. It’s notched up over 1.8 million sales. Chart Fact: 12 of Westlife’s Number 1s featured all five of them. After Brian left in 2004, they had only two more chart-toppers. Check out Billy's original chart-topping rendition of Uptown Girl before we rake over the rest of the Top 5 this week in 1999.

2: Fatboy Slim – Right Here, Right Now Fresh from his first ever chart-topper (as Fatboy Slim, at least) with Praise You, Norman Cook continued his reign as the king of '90s DJs with this much-sampled smash. Thanks to Westlife, it wouldn’t advance any farther than runner-up position, but it scored him a fourth Top 10 hit. He’d go on to have three more, with the latest being the super-noisy anthem to all party-lovers Eat Sleep Rave Repeat FT Rivastarr and Beardyman, which hit Number 3 in late 2013. Right Here, Right Now has sold 372,000 copies in the UK – over 16,000 of those just last year! 3: Martine McCutcheon – Perfect Moment As EastEnders’ favourite tragic barmaid Tiffany, Martine McCutcheon captured the hearts of millions. As a pop singer, she managed to sell them a few records too! After two weeks at Number 1 with this, her debut solo single, Martine slipped two places.

But, unlike the time her soap character took a tumble in front of a car on Albert Square, there was plenty of life left in Martine and she went on to have four more Top 10 hits. Perfect Moment managed to shift over 610,000 copies. 4: Texas – In Our Lifetime While Martine was just starting out, Scottish pop rock band Texas were celebrating a decade in the biz, with their seventh Top 10 hit. Fronted by straight-talking Sharleen Spiteri, the band were regular guests on the huge TV shows of the day, like Chris Evans’ iconic ladfest TFI Friday. Six more Top 10 hits followed, with Sleep being the last in 2006. In Our Lifetime never advanced on Number 4, and sold 185,000 copies in the UK. 5: Basement Jaxx – Red Alert London dance duo Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe hit the Top 10 for the very first time. Red Alert would be the first of five Top 10 hits for Basement Jaxx, the highest charting was its follow-up, Rendez-Vu, which peaked at Number 4.

Red Alert was the first single from the band’s debut full-length album Remedy and has sold 270,000 copies. See the full Top 40 from this week in 1999 . There are some corkers of new entries from Janet Jackson and Busta Rhymes, TQ, Faithless, Armand van Helden and BMR FT Felicia (tune, seriously). Record-Breakers and Trivia - everyHit.com Back To The 'Records & Trivia' Index Most Number 1s This, possibly the most important record, is held by Elvis Presley. He has had 21 chart-toppers, 18 of them different songs (three titles have topped the chart on two distinctly separate chart runs as part of the series of re-issues to commemorate what would have been Elvis' 70th birthday in 2005). You can see how this record has 'changed hands' over the years here . The Beatles are the top group with 17 number 1s. Madonna is the top woman with 13 (as of April 2008). Top female group is The Spice Girls with 9.

Only seven acts in chart history have got into double figures with their tally of chart-toppers. They are: Elvis Presley (21, 18 different songs), The Beatles (17), Cliff Richard (14 : six of them with The Shadows, one with The Drifters, one with The Young Ones), Westlife (14 : one of them with Mariah Carey), Madonna (13), The Shadows (11 : six of them with Cliff Richard, two of these also with The Norrie Paramor Strings) and Take That (11: one featuring Lulu). Westlife hold the record for getting into double-figures in the shortest time (2 years and 10 months [ie. 149 weeks] - more than 3 months quicker than The Beatles (who took 165 weeks). Unlike Westlife, however, The Beatles tended to spend several weeks at the summit, slowing down their release rate.) It is worth pointing out that Paul McCartney has appeared on more Number 1s than any other artist under a diverse range of credits.

He has, in fact, appeared on 24 Number 1s; solo (1), with Wings (1), Stevie Wonder, The Christians et al (1), Ferry Aid (1), Band Aid (1), Band Aid 20 (1) and The Beatles (17). In total, twenty-one artists have appeared on ten or more number one singles. They are: Paul McCartney (24), Elvis Presley (21), John Lennon (20), George Harrison (18), Ringo Starr (16), Cliff Richard (15), Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan (14), Robbie Williams, Madonna (13), Gary Barlow, Brian McFadden (12), Mel C , Geri Halliwell (11), Mel B, Emma Bunton, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen (10). Artist with Most Weeks at Number 1 It's Elvis Presley. He has topped the chart for a total of 80 weeks (as of w/e 5th Feb 2005). Top group is The Beatles (69 weeks).

Top female performer is Madonna (29 weeks - as of w/e 17th May 2008). In his many different manifestations, however, Paul McCartney has spent 93 weeks at the top. Most Consecutive Number 1s 7 - by The Beatles and Westlife. The Beatles' stretch began with "A Hard Day's Night" in 1964 and lasted to "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" in 1966. The run was broken when "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" merely made the number 2 position the following year! Westlife's stint began with their debut, "Swear it Again" in 1999 and ran through to "My Love" in November 2000 (though one hit was a 'duet' with Mariah Carey). It was broken by "What Makes A Man" which peaked at number 2 the following month. Beatles fans are, however, quick to point out that "Ain't She Sweet" (which made number 29 in 1964) was recorded in 1961, well before their EMI contract.

It was issued by Polydor to 'cash in' on the success of the fab four. Fans argue that this was not an "official" Beatles release. If this logic is accepted (though the track did make the charts), The Beatles run of successive number ones begins with "From Me To You" in April 1963 - making a total of 11. Top female group is The Spice Girls (6 in a row from "Wannabe" through to "Too Much"). Longest Span of Number 1 Singles 47 years, 6 months and 23 days. Held by Elvis Presley. His first number 1 was "All Shook Up" in 1957 (w/e 13th June). His most recent chart-topper was the re-issue of "It's Now Or Never" in 2005 (w/e 5th Feb). Runner up is Cliff Richard. His first chart-topper was "Living Doll" in 1959. His latest was "The Millennium Prayer" in 1999, a span of 40, 4 months and 15 days. (+ 21 days for total span).

Longest span for a female artist with solo credit is Madonna on 20 Years, 7 Months, 1 Day (from "Into The Groove", 3rd Aug 1985 to "Sorry", 4th March 2006 - ie. a total span of 1074 weeks). [NB: if we include "4 Minutes" - which also credited Justin Timberlake, the span runs through to 10th May 2008 (22 years, 9 Months, 13 Days) but then this record is broken by Cher - see below.] Kyie Minogue is still both popular and productive and, on 15 Years, 9 Months, and 23 Days (ie. 825 weeks from "I Should Be So Lucky", 23rd Jan 1988 to "Slow"; 15th Nov 2003), regularly poses a threat to Madonna in this regard. If we allow 'credits' on singles rather than solo performances, Cher easily takes the record.

Her duet with Sony, "I Got You Babe" (Aug 1965) to "Believe" (Oct-Dec 1998) gives a total span of 33 years, 3 months, and 14 days [ie. 1738 weeks]. Also worthy of a mention is Tammy Wynette. Her single "Stand By Your Man" made no. 1 in 1975. She was a guest vocalist on the 'various artists' single "Perfect Day" which topped the chart in 1997-8 (22 Years, 7 Months, 24 Days - ie. 1183 weeks). Diana Ross, though not individually credited, provided vocals on the Supremes 1964 chart-topper "Baby Love". She most recently had a solo no. 1 with "Chain Reaction" in 1986 (21 Years, 4 Months, 1 Day - or 1114 weeks - total span).

First Artist To Enter At Number 1 Al Martino's "Here In My Heart" was the track to Top the first ever chart (Nov 1952) so, technically, this was the first track to debut at Number 1. But ignoring this, the first artist to enter at Number 1 in the established chart was Elvis Presley ("Jailhouse Rock", Jan 1958). First Artist To Enter At Number 1 With Consecutive Releases Slade. In 1973 they debuted at the top with both "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me." Fastest Hat-Trick of Number 1s A one-a-week series of re-issued Elvis Presley singles in 2005 enabled him to have three different chart-toppers in just four weeks; ("Jailhouse Rock" w/e 15th Jan; "One Night" / "I Got Stung" w/e 22nd Jan; "It's Now Or Never" w/e 5th Feb). The record for the fastest hat-trick of non re-issued number ones is held by John Lennon.

Following his death in December 1980, there was an almost frenzied buying of his singles. This resulted in him topping the chart no fewer than three times within an 8 week period ["(Just Like) Starting Over" w/e 20th Dec 1980; "Imagine" (a re-entry but nevertheless, not a re-issue, w/e 10th Jan 1981; "Woman" w/e 7th Feb 1981.] First Artist To Enter At Number 1 With A Hat-Trick of Consecutive Releases Take That. In fact, from July 1993 to April 1994, all four of their single releases went straight in at No.1 ("Pray", "Relight My Fire" [featuring Lulu], "Babe", "Everything Changes"). The band repeated this feat in the period from Oct 1994 to March 1996. Most Entries at Number 1 From May 1999 to November 2006, Westlife entered the chart at No. 1 on 14 occasions.

First Entry At Number 1 By A Debuting Act Excluding Al Martino, who was No. 1 in the first ever chart, Billy Preston was the first artist to enter at No. 1 with a debut single. To be fair, he performed the song ("Get Back," 1969) with The Beatles and so, quite literally, can't claim the entire credit for this feat. The Band Aid charity ensemble made its debut at No. 1 ("Do They Know It's Christmas?", 1984) but this comprised a number of already successful artistes. The first act to make its chart debut at No. 1 on its own 'merit' was the Danish vocalist Whigfield (1994). Her song "Saturday Night" (with its associated dance) had been huge on the continent for some months and the demand from Brits returning home built up an enormous head of steam prior to its release. First British act to debut at No. 1 was Robson & Jerome ("Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs Of Dover", 1995). First solo male to debut at No.

1 was Babylon Zoo (a name used by British vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, Jas Mann) with "Spaceman" (1996). First British female act to make her debut at No. 1 was Billie ("Because We Want To", 1998). First all-girl group to make their chart debut at No. 1 was the Irish quartet B*Witched (with "C'est La Vie") in 1998. First British all-girl group to make its debut at No. 1 was Girls Aloud ("Sound Of The Underground", 2002). Most Entries at Number 1 by a Debuting Act On 11 Nov 2000, Westlife became the first act to have their first seven singles enter the chart at Number 1 as "My Love" crashed in at the top spot. First Act To Reach Number 1 With Their First Three Releases Gerry And The Pacemakers. Their debut single, "How Do You Do It?" was released in March 1963. After five weeks it made number 1.

It was followed later that year by "I Like It" and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (both topped the charts four weeks after first appearing in the Top 40). This feat was not matched until 21 years later when Frankie Goes To Hollwood took each of their first three singles to the top (1984).

Self-Replacement At Number One On nine occasions in history, one title by an act has knocked another hit, by the same act, off the number one spot: Ray Conniff and his Orchestra (Jan 1957) "Just Walking In The Rain" replaced by "Singing The Blues." Norrie Paramor and the string section of his orchestra (Mar 1963) - "The Wayward Wind" was replaced by "Summer Holiday." The Shadows (Aug 1960) "Please Don't Tease" knocked off the top spot by "Apache." The Shadows (Jan 1963) "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" replaced by "Dance On!" The Shadows (Mar 1963) "Summer Holiday" replaced by "Foot Tapper." The Shadows (Apr 1963) "Foot Tapper" replaced by "Summer Holiday." The Beatles (Dec 1963) "She Loves You" replaced by "I Want To Hold Your Hand." John Lennon (Feb 1981) "Imagine" replaced by "Woman." Elvis Presley (Jan 2005) "Jailhouse Rock" replaced by "One Night"

 / "I Got Stung." NB: Full credits: -"Just Walking In The Rain" - Johnnie Ray, Ray Conniff and his Orchestra / "Singing The Blues" - Guy Mitchell, Ray Conniff and his Orchestra.

- "The Wayward Wind" - Frank Ifield, with Norrie Paramor and his Orchestra / "Summer Holiday" - Cliff Richard, The Shadows and the Norrie Paramor Strings. - "Please Don't Tease", "The Next Time" / "Bachelor Boy" and "Summer Holiday" were credited to Cliff Richard and The Shadows. Longest Gap Between Number 1s 31 years 0 months - for George Harrison. "My Sweet Lord" first made the top spot in Jan 1971. A few weeks after his death, it returned to number 1 (Jan 2002). In second place is the artist who also holds the record for the longest gap between number 1s with different tracks and the record for longest gap between number 1s within the lifetime of the artist; Leo Sayer. In Feb 1977 he hit the top with "When I Need You". He didn't return until Feb 2006 (a day shy of 29 years gap) - with "Thunder In My Heart Again" (a remix of his 1977 hit, as 'Meck featuring Leo Sayer').

The longest run between original number 1s (i.e not a re-release/remix) is 18 years and 3 months for Blondie (Nov 1980, "The Tide is High", to Feb 1999, "Maria"). Biggest run for a female artist is 14 years 6 months by Diana Ross - from the prophetic "I'm Still Waiting" (Sep 1971) til "Chain Reaction" (Mar 1986). Special mention must be made here of Stevie Winwood. Though not specifically credited, he hit number 1 with The Spencer Davis Group ("Somebody Help Me") in Apr 1966. A barren period then followed before a sample of his solo hit "Valerie" formed the basis of Eric Prydz's chart-topper "Call On Me" in Sep 2004; an hiatus of 38 years and 5 months between appearances, albeit uncredited, at number 1. Longest Time For An Artist To Get To Number 1 34 Years, 10 Months, and 2 Days; Tony Christie.

His first single, "Las Vegas", entered the Top 40 on w/e 16th Jan 1971, peaking at no. 21. His single from November of that year, "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" was used in 2005 by comedian Peter Kaye in various TV performances, ultimately leading to a re-release in aid of Comic Relief. That catapulted the track back into the chart - at no. 1 - on w/e 26th Mar 2005. This broke the record set over 18 years previously by Jackie Wilson. His "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town)" topped the chart in Dec 1986; 29 Years, 1 Month, and 11 Days after it first entered the chart. The longest time for a female soloist to take to reach Number 1 is 25 Years, 8 Months and 15 Days for Cher [from her first solo hit, "All I Really Want To Do", 19th Aug 1965 to "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", 4th May 1991].

She had, though, previously topped the chart as half of Sonny and Cher before going solo. In terms of contributing to a Number 1: Ozzy Osbourne holds the male record. He first hit the Top 40 as a member of Black Sabbath with "Paranoid" on w/e 12th Sep 1970. 33 years, 3 months and 8 days later (w/e 20th Dec 2003; a total of 1736 weeks) he achieved the top spot with "Changes" (a duet with daughter Kelly - and a version of a Black Sabbath album track from 1972). The previous record holder was Eric Clapton. He first hit the chart as a member of the Yardbirds in 1965 ("For Your Love", w/e 20th Mar 1965) but did not form part of a chart-topping combo until hit collaboration with Cher (her again!), Chrissie Hynde and Neneh Cherry ("Love Can Build A Bridge", w/e 25 Mar 1995); 30 years, 0 months and 5 days [1567 weeks].

Lulu holds the female record. Her first Top 40 hit was "Shout" (w/e 16th May 1964). She finally hit the top spot with Take That ("Relight My Fire", 9th Oct, 1993); 29 Years, 4 Months and 23 Days. Posthumous Number 1s A morbid one - but one about which, nonetheless, we receive constant emails. Artists which have topped the chart following their death are: Artist Westlife - Swear It Again (UK Version) (music video) - [e54bf6b38] Westlife - Swear It Again (UK Version) Description buy Music video by Westlife performing Swear It Again. (C) 1999 BMG Entertainment International UK & Ireland Ltd "Swear It Again" is a song by Westlife, released as the band's first single. It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts. This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles.

To date, it is Westlife's only single to have charted in the USA, peaking at #20 and was #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 Year End Chart in 2000. The British video features the band in a mini theatre, singing on a stage fitted with lighting panel flooring while facing a screen with black and white videos of their studio recording process. This version was directed by Wayne Isham and aired in May 1999. The United States video features the band at a car wash and subsequently washing a white car. This version was directed by Nigel Dick and aired in June 2000.

Tags: Westlife - Swear It Again Lyrics | LyricsHall Who ever told you I was letting go Of the only joy that I have ever known Girl, they were lying And all of the people that we used to know Have just given up, they wanna let it go But we're still trying So you should know this love we share was never made to die I'm glad we're on this one way street just you and I Just you and I I'm never gonna say goodbye 'Cause I never wanna see you cry I swore to you my love would remain And I swear it all over again and I I'm never gonna treat you bad 'Cause I never wanna see you sad I swore to share your joy and your pain And I swear it all over again [Shane:] That everything has got its place in time Even the day must give way to the night But I'm not buying I see a love that burns eternally And if you see how beautiful you are to me You'll know I'm not lying Sure there'll be times we wanna say goodbye But even if we try There are some things in this life won't be denied Won't be denied I'm never gonna say goodbye 'Cause I never wanna see you cry I swore to you my love would remain

 And I swear it all over again and I I'm never gonna treat you bad 'Cause I never wanna see you sad I swore to share your joy and your pain And I swear it all over again [Mark:] The more I know of you is the more I know I love you And the more that I'm sure I want you forever and ever more And the more that you love me, the more that I know Oh that I'm never gonna let you go Gotta let you know that I [All:] I'm never gonna say goodbye [Mark:] (I'm never gonna say goodbye) [All:] 'Cause I never wanna see you cry [Mark:] (Never wanna see you cry) [All:] I swore to you my love would remain And I swear it all over again and I [Mark:] (Swear it all over again and I) [All:] I'm never gonna treat you bad [Mark:] (Never gonna treat you bad) [All:] 'Cause I never wanna see you sad [Mark:] (Never wanna see you sad) [All:] I swore to share your joy and your pain [Mark:] And I swear it all over again Song facts "Swear It Again" is a song by Westlife, released as the band

's first single.

It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts. This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles. To date, it is Westlife's only single to have charted in the USA, peaking at #20 and was #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 Year End Chart in 2000. The song was performed live on Miss Teen USA 2000. This single has sold over 365 000 copies to date in UK and in USA which peaked at #2 in Billboard Single Sales Chart and achieved gold status there. The British video features the band in a mini theatre, singing on a stage fitted with lighting panel flooring while facing a screen with black and white videos of their studio recording process. This version was directed by Wayne Isham and aired in May 1999. The United States video features the band at a car wash and subsequently washing a white car. This version was directed by Nigel Dick and aired in June 2000.

Swear It Again by AL DEAN - YouTube Swear It Again by AL DEAN Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 28, 2012 "Swear It Again" is a song by the Irish pop band Westlife, released as the band's first single. It peaked at #1 in the UK for two weeks. It moved to 182,000 units in the first two weeks of its release and spent 13 weeks on the charts.[1] This made it the first of fourteen UK number 1 hit singles. To date, it is Westlife's only single to have charted in the USA, peaking at #20 and was #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 Year End Chart in 2000. The song was performed live on Miss Teen USA 2000.

This single has sold over 365 000 copies to date in UK and in USA which peaked at 89 in Billboard Single Sales Chart and achieved gold status there. "Swear It Again" is notable for being, along with "Flying Without Wings", one of the first two songs that Steve Mac wrote for both Westlife and Simon Cowell. The success of the two tracks led to Mac becoming Cowell's first choice producer and songwriter.[4] The song's b-side, "Forever", was a significant choice because it was the song - as recorded by Damage - that first alerted Cowell to the talent of Steve Mac and then led to the producer working with Westlife. Music video The British video features the band in a mini theatre, singing on a stage fitted with lighting panel flooring while facing a screen with black and white videos of their studio recording process. This version was directed by Wayne Isham and aired in May 1999.[5] The United States video features the band at a car wash and subsequently washing a white car. This version was directed by Nigel Dick and aired in June 2000. When oblivion & doubts prevail, my SUNSHINE...

let me SWEAR IT AGAIN with you that I will never let you go and I love you so much.. more than anything this world can offer! Category 1000 Number Ones Search | About everyHit | Chart archive | Award / Poll Winners | Number 1s | FAQs | Contact us 1000 Number Ones On 16th January 2005, Elvis Presley achieved the one-thousandth Number One since the inception of the UK singles chart in 1952. This area of everyHit.com is a celebration of the first 1000 chart-toppers. Most of the information on this page has been collated from details elsewhere on this site with the odd new piece or two for good measure. These are tumultuous times for the single. One week early in January, 265,000 were sold in the UK; the lowest total since national weekly figures were first extrapolated early in 1969. In the week immediately after Christmas, monitored legal downloads overtook sales of physical CD singles for the first time ever.

As we reflect on the 1000th chart topper, the single faces the most spectacular change in its long history - but one which it is seems sure to ride. (The problem isn't so much a lack of interest in / desire to 'own' modern music but, rather, how transactions are accurately quantified; the distribution of music has expanded spectacularly through a proliferation of, mostly, unaudited routes... the 'illegal downloads.') We'll have more on the history of the single's changing formats later but, for now, let's wallow in facts and figures from the past 52 years! By a very odd coincidence, it turned out that Elvis Presley not only had the 1000th Number One that week ("One Night / I Got Stung") but, that very same week, he also became the first artist to have spend 1000 weeks in the Top 40! If that morsel has whetted your appetite for Number One facts then you're in the right place; this page is full of them!

Here, you will learn that the 'average' chart-topper has spent 2.7 weeks at number one, 7.5 weeks in the Top 10, and 12.4 inside the Top 40. If you think that's trivial then you should just see what follows! Enjoy! Precise credits given on this page . Longest Gap Between Number 1s 31 years 0 months - for George Harrison. "My Sweet Lord" first made the top spot in Jan 1971. A few weeks after his death, it returned to number 1 (Jan 2002). In second place is the act which also holds the record for the longest gap between number 1s with different tracks and the record for longest gap between number 1s within the lifetime of the artist(s); The Righteous Brothers (25 years 8 months). In Feb 1965 they hit the top with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". They didn't return until 1990 - with "Unchained Melody".

The longest run between original number 1s (i.e not a re-release) is 18 years and 3 months for Blondie (Nov 1980, "The Tide is High", to Feb 1999, "Maria"). Longest Time To Get To Number 1 Jackie Wilson first entered the chart on 15th Nov 1957 with "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town)." He finally made Number 1 (coincidentally with the same track) on w/e 27th Dec 1986 - 29 Years, 1 Month, and 12 Days later; a record for any soloist. The longest time for a female soloist to take to reach Number 1 is 25 Years, 8 Months and 15 Days for Cher [from her first solo hit, "All I Really Want To Do", 19th Aug 1965 to "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)", 4th May 1991]. She had, though, previously topped the chart as half of Sonny and Cher before going solo.

In terms of contributing to a Number 1: Ozzy Osbourne holds the male record. He first hit the Top 40 as a member of Black Sabbath with "Paranoid" on w/e 12th Sep 1970. 33 years, 3 months and 8 days later (w/e 20th Dec 2003; a total of 1736 weeks) he achieved the top spot with "Changes" (a duet with daughter Kelly - and a version of a Black Sabbath album track from 1972). Posthumous Number 1s A morbid one - but one about which, nonetheless, we receive constant emails. Ten artists have topped the chart following their death. There is a list on this page . On 20th January 2002, George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" replaced Aaliyah's "More Than A Woman" at the top spot. This is the only time in chart history that one deceased artist has taken over from another at number 1 (though John Lennon and Elvis Presley have each replaced themselves at no.

1 posthumously.) One-Hit Wonders These are artists who had one number one single and have been involved in no other hit ('hit' here meaning a Top 40 placing). There are sixty-nine such artists. Again, there is a full list on this page . Most Successful Acts Not To Have A Number 1 Single Depeche Mode have had most Top 40 hits without making No. 1 (37 of them!). In fact, they've never risen above No. 4. Billy Fury has spent 231 weeks on the Top 40. No other artist has spent longer on the chart without making No. 1. His best chart placing was Number 2 for "Jealousy" in 1961. Special mention must also go to Sash! who has made Number 2 on five occasions. No other artist has been 'runner up' with so many singles without ever making it to Number 1. (Jon) Bon Jovi has featured on eighteen Top 10 singles but never made the number 1 position. One hit behind, Janet Jackson has appeared on seventeen Top 10 singles without reaching the top spot. Youngest Chart-Topper Little Jimmy Osmond.

He was just 9 years and 8 months young when he hit the summit in 1972 with "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool." Youngest female chart-topper is Helen Shapiro who took "You Don't Know" to the top at the tender age of 14 years and 10 months. Jessica Smith played the part of 'Baby Sun' in the Teletubbies TV programme. Her giggle was used on The Teletubbies 1997 chart-topper "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" Though not credited for this 'performance,' she is the youngest person to have appeared on a no.1 single. We are currently trying to ascertain her precise age at the time of recording; it is certainly less than 1 year old and thought to be around the 7 month mark. If you're reading this Jessica, please let us know! Youngest Performer to Enter at Number 1 Billie (Piper); she was 15 years and 287 days when she entered the chart at number 1 on 5th July 1998 with "Because We Want To." Youngest male to do so is Gareth Gates.

He was 17 years and 255 days old when he debuted at number 1 with "Unchained Melody" on 24th March 2002. Oldest Chart-Topper Louis Armstrong who was 66 years and 10 months when he peaked with "What A Wonderful World"/"Cabaret" in Feb 1968. Oldest woman is Cher who was 52 years and 7 months when she hit the number 1 spot with "Believe" (1999). Title Information Here we give the essentials of records held by various titles - more detail is available here . All-Time Best-Selling Number One "Candle In The Wind '97" by Elton John (1997; 4.86 million copies). Top seller by a group; "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid (1984; 3.55m) Biggest-seller by a female artist: "Believe" - Cher (1998; 1.67m).

Biggest-selling no.1 by an all-female group is "Wannabe" by The Spice Girls (1996; 1.27m). Most Weeks at Number 1 by a Record 18 - by Frankie Laine's "I Believe". It topped the chart on three separate occasions (all in 1953). Most Consecutive Weeks at Number 1 by a Record 16 - by Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" (1991). Longest Time To Get To Number 1 29 Years, 1 Month, and 11 Days. Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town)" first entered the chart on 16th Nov 1957 when it peaked at number 6. Its use in a Levis ad in 1986 catapulted it back into the chart to top it on 27th Dec 1986. The slowest climb to the top in a single spell inside the Top 40 is 13 weeks for Celine Dion's "Think Twice" (Nov 1994 to Feb 1995).

Title With Most Weeks At Number One "I Believe" has spent 22 weeks at the top of the chart (18 weeks for Frankie Lane, in three separate visits throughout 1953) and 4 weeks for Robson & Jerome (1995). Runner up is "Unchained Melody" which has spent 18 weeks at the summit by four different artists. Topping The Chart By Different Artists Only one track has topped the chart by four different artists. It is "Unchained Melody". Artists to take it to number one in the UK are: Jimmy Young (1955), Righteous Brothers (as a re-issue in 1990), Robson & Jerome (1995) and Gareth Gates (2002). 32 other titles have topped the chart more than once by different artists. There is a full list on this page . Same Version Topping The Chart More Than Once Only foure chart-topping tracks have ever left the chart and then returned to top it a second time with exactly the same arrangement.

They are: "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison (1971 and 2002; though with different 'B-sides'), "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (1975 and 1991, though on the latter occasion it was a double-A side with "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"), and "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley (1958 and 2005; with the same B-side but a new catalogue number.) "One Night / I Got Stung" by Elvis Presley (1959 and 2005; with the same B-side but a new catalogue number.) First Number 1 by a British Artist The seventh ever number one, The Stargazers' "Broken Wings" (Apr 1953), was the first chart-topper by a British artist. The previous six had all been by US acts. Biggest Jump To Number 1 from within the Top 40 The biggest jump to no. 1 from within the Top 40 was by Captain Sensible's "Happy Talk". In July 1982 it shot to the top from no. 33.

Most Successive Weeks With A New Number 1 From 24th June 2000 to 16th Sep 2000, every week saw a new record top the chart. This run of 13 new number ones in as many weeks is the longest of such instances in chart history. Most Number 1s In A Year 2000 also holds the record for most number ones in a year; 42 of them (43 if you count the Westlife track which spanned over from 1999). Number One In Most Years Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the only record to be number one in four different years 1975, 1976, 1991 & 1992 (as it spanned the New year period on both occupancies at number one). Lowest-Selling Number One Lowest selling No.1 in total since is Ja Rule featuring R Kelly & Ashanti, "Wonderful". Entering the chart w/e 6th Nov 2004 it went on to sell a total of 65,000 copies.

Prior to the slump in singles sales which occurred from late 2002 onwards, the lowest selling no. 1 (since at least 1960) had been Iron Maiden's "Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter"; it sold around 100,000. This record could have potentially fallen many times over the next few weeks as the current crop of Elvis Presley re-issues have been limited to 27,500. They are saved from this fate by the sales from their original appearance at no.1 which significantly raise their overall total. Lowest weekly sale for a no. 1 since at least 1960 is for the 2005 re-issue of "One Night" / "I Got Stung" by Elvis Presley; ironically, the 1000th Number 1. It sold just 20,463 copies in its first week at no. 1 (w/e 22nd Jan 2005). Biggest-Seller Not To Make Number One Wham's "Last Christmas" was held off the top spot by Band Aid's huge sales in 1984.

Almost any other week it would have easily topped the chart, selling half a million copies in that week alone; more than 21 times the number of copies than were able to get the aforementioned Ja Rule single to no. 1 twenty years later! Shortest Chart Stay For A Number 1 Blur's 1997 chart-topper, "Beetlebum" disappeared from the whole top 40 just 3 weeks after debuting at number one. In its second week it dropped to number 7. It then descended to number 29 before vanishing altogether. This record could potentially be beaten by the current crop of Elvis Presley re-issues. They are limited editions of just 27,500 and sustained chart runs seems a little unlikely (though they have, of course, been in the chart for many weeks in their original guise). Biggest Fall From Number 1 After Christmas 1957, Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child" tumbled from No. 1 to No. 12; the biggest ever fall from the top spot. Other Nonsense! Here we give more miscellany about chart-toppers - similar ramblings about the Top 40 can be found here .

Parents / Offspring / Siblings Topping The Chart Only one father / son combination has ever topped the charts each in their own right. Julio Iglesias topped the chart with "Begin The Beguine" in Nov 1981. More than twenty years later in February 2002, his son, Enrique hit number 1 with "Hero". There are instances of parents/offspring topping the charts on the same track. Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra hit number one with "Somethin' Stupid" in 1967. Five years later Coventry band Lieutenant Pigeon made number one with "Mouldy Old Dough"; in this group was Rob Woodward and his mum, Hilda. Both played keyboards. In 2003 Ozzy Osbourne and his daughter Kelly hit the top spot with "Changes," a remake of a track first sung by Ozzy on the Black Sabbath album "Volume 4" in 1972. A mother-daughter combination is yet to reach the summit either separately or on the same disc. But wait!

One entire family consisting of mum, dad, son and daughters has in fact topped the chart; The Simpsons with "Do The Bartman" in Jan 1991! Now we're in a quandary; do cartoon characters count? D'oh! Only three pairs of siblings have ever achieved separate solo number ones. They are: Eden Kane (real name Richard Sarstedt) ("Well I Ask You" in 1961) and his younger brother Peter Sarstedt ("Where Do You Go To My Lovely" in 1969). Donny Osmond ("Puppy Love" in 1972; "The Twelfth Of Never" in 1973; "Young Love" in 1973) and his younger brother Little Jimmy Osmond ("Long Haired Lover From Liverpool" in 1972) Daniel Bedingfield ("Gotta Get Thru This" in 2001; "If You're Not The One" in 2002; "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" in 2003) and his younger sister Natasha ("These Words" in 2004).

Artist having hits as a Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet, Quintet etc Paul McCartney not only had hits but topped the chart in each of the following guises; solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet and other ensembles! Details on this page . Longest Playing Time For A Number One Oasis' "All Around The World" (1998) has a duration of 9 minutes 38 seconds. The first Number 1 to have a playing time of more than four minutes was Harry Belafonte's "Mary's Boy Child" (1957; 4 mins 12 secs). Shortest Hit Single The average chart-topping title consists of 3.4 words / 18.1 letters. Record Being Replaced At Number One By Another Containing Its Title The 'classic' "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen contains the famous "mamma mia, mamma mia, mamma mia let me go" line. In January 1976, it was replaced at the top of the chart by none other than Abba's "Mamma Mia". There are other less dramatic examples of this phenomenon; see this page .

First Self-Penned Number 1 Mantovani's "Cara Mia" (July 1954; the 20th no. 1); it was composed by Mantovani and Bunny Lewis (under pen names Tulio Trapani and Lee Lange respectively). Not until the 43rd Number 1 was an act entirely responsible for writing its own chart-topper; The Dreamweavers' "It's Almost Tomorrow" (March 1956). Over twenty-eight years later Stevie Wonder became the first artist ever to write, produce and entirely perform a Number 1 ("I Just Called To Say I Love You", Sep 1984). Eponymous Number Ones When Mr. Blobby went to number one with "Mr Blobby" in 1993 it was the first time in 41 years of chart history that an eponymously title song achieved this feat. However, less than four months "Doop" hit number one by a band called Doop!

Biggest Chart-Topper By A Non-Human Artist In terms of chart success, this coveted title goes to The Archies for "Sugar Sugar" which spent 8 weeks at number 1 in 1969 (and stayed in the Top 40 for 22 weeks). Created for mass consumption by bubblegum-pop genius Don Kirshner (the man who gave us the Monkees), the Archies existed on television as an animated series based on the comic book characters of the same name. The voices behind the singing cartoon characters were vocalists Ron Dante, Toni Wine and Andy Kim. The biggest-selling number one by a non-human group is "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh" by The Teletubbies (1997, 1.1 million copies). Most Graceful Retreat From Number 1 In chart history, four singles haven fallen from the Number 1 spot by one position for four consecutive weeks (ie. No. 1 to No. 2 to 3, 4, 5).

They are: Dickie Valentine - "Finger Of Suspicion" (1954) [1-2-3-4-5-5-4-9-17] Tommy Edwards - "It's All In The Game" (1958) [1-2-3-4-5-4-8-11-15-27] Michael Jackson - "You Are Not Alone" (1995) [1-2-3-4-5-7-9-13-25-30-31] Eminem - "The Real Slim Shady" (2000) [1-2-3-4-5-7-8-10-11-15-23-33-38] You may also be interested in the quirks of the number one positon here .

Question: Who had their first UK number one hit in May 1999 with Swear It Again?
Answer: Westlife